Chapter 49: Different Times 15

Chapter 49: Different Times 15

Yu Bai suddenly wished he could truly fall asleep right now.

Or perhaps someone should just punch him to knock him out.

As he gazed at Xie Wufang standing by the door, Yu Bai couldn't help but recall the man who had arrived after receiving his plea for help not long ago. With a casual glance, that man had taken in every detail around him, including Yan Jing by his side.

Then, amidst the silence, Xie Wufang had stated calmly, "You're avoiding me."

Oh, to be precise, it wasn't long ago—it was just yesterday.

...

It had only happened yesterday!

Why did it feel like half a lifetime had passed?

He was almost ready to forget that damn cliché of running away with a secret pregnancy!

Yet now, for the same reason, with the same person, and even the same third party, Yan Jing.

No way, why was this happening again? !

Yu Bai had only been out of the loop for two days, yet every day, he was found out by non-humans using sleep as an excuse to dodge them.

...Would he be the reason humans lost credibility?

With this thought, Yu Bai abruptly snapped back to reality. His hands, still gripping the game controller, instinctively moved to conceal the object –

stuffing it behind the couch cushion. Then, he dragged the flailing Yan Jing over to cover the cushion and the hidden controller.

Only then did Yu Bai, now empty-handed, manage a casual smile. "Yeah, I'm going to bed."

"..." Yan Jing, just recovering from a bizarre sensation of suffocation, fell silent for a moment. He forgot what he originally intended to say and asked, surprised and disheartened, "You're not playing anymore?"

Without turning his head, Yu Bai punched him and growled, "Shut up!!"

It was all this guy's fault for tempting him with the game!

Beside him, Xie Wufang fell silent for a moment before whispering, "I've already seen it."

He gazed at the two of them now nestled together on the sofa. After a brief pause, he continued, "That day, I saw you hide the Eternal Sphere in the sofa too—"

"I'm going to bed right now! Really!"

His calm words were hastily interrupted by Yu Bai, whose ears were so red they seemed ready to bleed.

Enough, stop talking!

...Indeed, this wasn't the first time he'd hidden something from Xie Wufang.

Seeing is seeing; why did he have to bring it up? And to dig up old grudges all of a sudden!

Didn't he understand the concept of unspoken understanding?

This kind of behavior wasn't going to convince anyone that he was human!

Inside, Yu Bai was raging, but his expression remained obedient, as if he had just met a loving elder. He promptly got up from the sofa, pretending to head out, "I feel so sleepy. I'll go freshen up and hit the hay."

Observing the situation, Yan Jing, with a baffled look on his face, dared to ask a seemingly ignorant question, "Little Bai, which room are you going to freshen up in? You're not sleeping in this room with me?"

Earlier, as they rushed into the place and hastily created the illusion of a cozy TV-watching scene, both Yu Bai and Yan Jing had taken a moment to appreciate the surroundings.

The room not only boasted a large-screen TV and the latest gaming console but was also a suite connected to two bedrooms, each with a comfortable-looking king-sized bed. It was fully equipped with all the necessary furniture.

It was simply the ideal room for gaming or gathering with friends.

They never expected to find such a modern design that catered to young people's habits within this traditionally styled Chinese courtyard, which appeared so ancient from the outside.

Back then, Yu Bai and Yan Jing couldn't help but hold a newfound respect for Zhang Yunjiang and casually agreed to stay in this suite for the night, sparing them from occupying too many rooms and feeling awkward about it.

But now...

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Jing sensed something amiss.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was off, though.

The enigmatic non-human still wore an inscrutable expression, while the guilt-ridden Little Bai continued to feign composure. The cheerful game music still echoed from the television, tempting them both.

And Yan Jing, who had just narrowly escaped death...

Damn it!

It seemed like he was about to die again!

The overwhelming sensation of suffocation that had just subsided returned with a vengeance. At this life-threatening moment, Yan Jing unleashed his greatest potential, springing up from the sofa with a burst of energy.

"I'll sleep here, I'm not playing anymore!" He covered his neck, which was struggling for air, and dashed towards the door as if a typhoon were chasing him. "Damn it, there's something toxic in this room!"

His animal-like instinct to evade danger saved Yan Jing from another close call.

Unaware of what had transpired, Yu Bai watched Yan Jing's desperate retreat, a massive question mark forming in his mind.

"What on earth is wrong with him today?"

Amidst his astonishment, Yu Bai couldn't help but genuinely marvel, "Truly, the prowess of a fitness instructor."

How did he manage to leap up from the sofa with his legs crossed, land perfectly, and then sprint smoothly?

This defied Earth's gravity altogether!

Amidst his astonishment, Yu Bai suddenly realized that they were now the only two people left in the spacious and luxurious suite.

Xie Wufang, however, paid no attention to the strangely ailing human. He continued to observe Yu Bai in silence.

...

Yu Bai halted his steps as he was about to leave and calmly continued Yan Jing's sentence, "Then I'll sleep in this room."

He glanced at the two bedrooms that were side by side and hesitated for a moment before asking softly, "Where are you planning to stay tonight?"

Humans needed food, sleep, and entertainment, so under the elderly man's generous and enthusiastic hospitality, he had long decided what he would do and where he would stay for the night.

But this non-human before him seemed to have no such needs.

In response to Yu Bai's question, Xie Wufang answered, "I don't know."

As expected, he hadn't given it any thought.

Thus, Yu Bai pondered and offered, "Why don't you stay here too? It just so happens that we each have a room, and it'll save Uncle the trouble of cleaning another one."

One shouldn't impose too much on others.

And they couldn't simply leave a non-human unfamiliar with the area alone.

Besides, they were neighbors separated only by a wall.

Yu Bai's question was casual, and the man's response was equally natural.

"Alright."

And so, the arrangement for their accommodation tonight was unexpectedly settled in this manner.

Five minutes later, as Yu Bai brushed his teeth with foam filling his mouth, he finally became aware of a subtle, peculiar sensation.

He was washing up in the bathroom, genuinely preparing to go to bed honestly. As for Xie Wufang outside, he had no idea what he was doing, as he couldn't see him in the mirror.

Yu Bai paused and listened attentively for a while but didn't hear any noise.

A hint of curiosity stirred within him.

Well, it was more than just a hint.

What did non-humans, who didn't need sleep, do during those long, lonesome nights?

He had wondered about this more than once.

Tonight seemed like the best chance to get closer to an answer.

There was a subtle difference between living next door and sharing a wall with someone in an adjacent bedroom.

At this moment, they were both in the shared living room.

And the bedroom door might not necessarily be closed.

Yu Bai, standing before the mirror, held his toothbrush in a momentary dilemma.

Then, he turned silently, deciding to brush his teeth in the living room for a while.

...People do tend to wander around while brushing their teeth.

However, just as Yu Bai was about to leave the bathroom, his phone, which he had carelessly placed on the vanity, suddenly rang out with a brief yet distinct message notification.

Followed by several more beeps.

Yu Bai halted in his tracks and picked up his phone.

It was Yan Jing who had messaged him.

[Little Bai, I've finally made it through! Just now, I nearly didn't make it!!!]

[I've thought about it carefully, it probably wasn't an issue with the room. Everything was fine until that person named Xie showed up!]

[By the way, Little Bai, where are you? Are you still alive?!]

Yu Bai was overwhelmed by a flurry of panicked words. Despite recognizing each character, he couldn't comprehend what Yan Jing was trying to convey.

Seeing his friend's visibly shaken state and a continuous stream of new messages, Yu Bai quickly replied without much thought.

[Xia surname, you say?]

Yan Jing was evidently glued to his phone, replying promptly.

"Exactly! It's wonderful that you're safe and sound!!"

"Stay away from that fellow, seriously! He's terrifying! Should I come over right now to rescue you?"

[Though at present, I don't dare approach at all, oh my god! It's truly terrifying!]

Yu Bai was initially taken aback, then a mischievous thought couldn't help but surface, and his fingertips danced lightly across the screen.

[Xie Wufang sent that.]

[I'm fine, just brushing my teeth. What's going on with you today? Should I come over to see you?]

As soon as the first message was sent, Yu Bai watched in dismay as the messages filling the left side of his phone screen were swiftly withdrawn one after another.

Beneath a barrage of notifications reading "Yan Jing has recalled a message," a new message with an exclamation mark burst onto the screen.

"Brother Xie! Dad! Grandpa!!! That's not what I meant!"

Silence ensued, only to be interrupted by Yu Bai's suppressed laughter. He quickly took a screenshot as a memento of this awkward moment.

In the bright and warm bathroom mirror, the brown-haired young man, teeth clenched on his toothbrush, was gazing intently at his phone, which kept buzzing with notifications, causing his eyes to curve into a smile.

After a brief silence, a knock sounded from just outside the door.

Yu Bai paused in his texting, turning his head in confusion.

It was Xie Wufang.

He hadn't had the chance to sneak a peek at what the non-human was up to, yet here the other person was, coming to him first.

Was he here to freshen up too?

Yu Bai froze for a moment, promptly putting down his phone and hastening his tooth-brushing, instinctively saying, "I'll be done soon, just wait a moment!"

His muffled words escaped, but Xie Wufang at the door showed no sign of urging him on.

The man's face was devoid of expression, save for a subtle stirring in his gray-blue eyes. He whispered, "May I ask you a question?"

"What?" Yu Bai looked surprised but quickly replied, "Sure, go ahead and ask."

He couldn't recall how many questions he had casually answered from inquisitive non-humans. Why was it that now, this one was seeking permission before posing a query?

Having learned this from somewhere, Xie Wufang proceeded with the question after receiving the green light.

"Why is he your best friend?"

Him?

This question caught Yu Bai off guard. It took him a moment to realize that Xie Wufang was referring to Yan Jing.

Because that's how he had introduced Yan Jing to Xie Wufang yesterday.

"He's Yan Jing, my friend...my best friend."

When Xie Wufang had heard that back then, he'd pondered and countered with a question of his own, "Best friend?"

Yu Bai had intended to clarify, but for a moment, he was unsure what the emphasis in that question was – 'best' or 'friend'?

Regardless of the focus, it seemed like an idea humans took for granted but found difficult to precisely define. At the time, Yu Bai hadn't known how to explain it effectively, so he had changed the subject.

Xie Wufang still remembered.

How studious.

Yu Bai thought to himself that he couldn't evade this topic again.

"I'll be done brushing my teeth in a minute," he said hastily, his mouth filled with foam, "It's not convenient to talk like this."

For this was a matter that couldn't be adequately explained with just a single sentence.

So Xie Wufang waited patiently in silence.

He saw the earnestness in those light, warm eyes, gradually giving way to a nostalgic smile.

"Because on one day when we were kids, I accidentally flew a paper plane into his hair, which was, well, quite untidy – like a chicken coop. That's how we became best friends."

Yu Bai added, explaining voluntarily, "A chicken coop hairstyle is... um, a kind of messy hairdo."

As his words faded, a hint of confusion indeed emerged in the previously enigmatic blue eyes.

It didn't make much sense, did it?

Seeing his expression, Yu Bai's smile deepened as he continued, "Every time someone asks me this, I give them the same answer."

Xie Wufang inquired, "Every time?"

"Mm-hmm. Actually, throughout my life, many people have asked me similar questions, always avoiding Yan Jing."

Like teachers who cared deeply about their star pupils and would privately ask him: Why did he always play with the classmate who consistently ranked last in academics? Why was he so close to this slow-witted underachiever?

Aside from his often-misinterpreted hair color, Yu Bai, though not an exaggerative straight-A student, was still seen by teachers and classmates as a mature and intelligent young man with a bright future.

Considering his unique family circumstances, teachers would be particularly attentive to every detail of his life, fearful that he might be led astray or veer off course.

Yu Bai would respond to them calmly with that same phrase.

Then, in the next exam, he would deliberately score an unexpectedly shocking result: second from the bottom.

That was practically the same as being dead last.

Thus, any teacher startled by this turn of events, if they perceived something amiss, wouldn't dare to inquire further.

Yu Bai disliked hearing this question immensely and was unwilling to provide a detailed explanation to those who asked it, often developing resentment towards them as a result.

For years, Doctor Chen, like a mother, never asked. Tian Ge and Uncle Li, like a father, never did either. Nor did Yan Jing's considerate parents.

Xie Wufang was the first person to receive an additional answer after posing this question.

Oh, not quite a person, though.

After all, he was entirely detached from human contexts.

There was none of the familiar, subtle disdain or rigid judgment in his tone.

Only a straightforward question remained.

Thus, Yu Bai continued to answer earnestly, "Yan Jing's parents run a funeral parlor. You should already be aware of that."

Xie Wufang responded with equal seriousness, "Mm-hm."

"But you probably don't know that in our culture, death is a taboo, even though it's an inevitable part of life for everyone," he shared. "A funeral parlor symbolizes death, and people tend to avoid it, considering it unlucky."

"So before me, no child wanted to be friends with Yan Jing. They either kept their distance or found ways to bully and mock him. He had no peers as friends."

In truth, young children were least knowledgeable about death and cared little about taboos. However, experienced adults would secretly instill caution in them and set examples through their actions.

Children gradually learned to emulate their elders.

Xie Wufang inquired, "Then why did you choose to be friends with him?"

Looking into those pure, gray-blue eyes, Yu Bai smiled softly, "Because back then, I didn't have friends my age either."

"I don't think I've ever spoken to you about my family," he said evenly. "My mother left soon after I was born, and my father passed away when I was ten while trying to save someone. So, in a sense, I'm an orphan who lost both parents."

Perhaps he had casually mentioned these details to Xie Wufang in some loop, but not in the real world.

"It sounds rather pitiful, doesn't it?"

Without waiting for the man's response, Yu Bai continued, "But at the same time, I've been fortunate to meet many kind people. Even my teachers in school showed extra concern for me. Nobody dared to bully me; everyone treated me with great care... because my father was a hero to everyone."

So, his life wasn't as miserable as it seemed.

Yet, after a brief silence, Xie Wufang responded, "It seems like you don't enjoy this."

Though non-humans were ignorant of the intricacies of the world, they were acutely sensitive to emotions.

"Yes, I don't," Yu Bai admitted, smiling at him. He murmured, "It's not the same as a regular life."

To be loved, hated, and brushed past indifferently—such was the ordinary, yet genuinely happy life.

Being too perfect was like a delicate illusion, prone to shattering.

During those brief moments when illusions fell short, the cold reality beneath would reveal itself.

"All the adults took great care of me, and my classmates were also friendly, always giving in to me first. I was always the most exceptional among all the children, receiving extraordinary favor. Even if I refused, it made no difference."

"Thus, no peers were truly willing to be my friend. They kept their distance from me in their hearts."

Xie Wufang clearly couldn't grasp the paradoxical logic behind these words. "Why?"

"There's no why." Yu Bai's eyes curved into a smile. "That's just how humans are."

Humans were such complicated creatures, not easily explained in a few simple words.

He refrained from further explanation and returned to the topic of the paper airplane that had fallen by chance.

"On that day, I was playing alone with a paper airplane in a corner of the school, trying to make it fly as far as possible into the sky."

Yan Jing, a primary school student from the neighboring class, sat alone on the steps in the corner, his expression blank after having been teased by his classmates.

Suddenly, a white paper airplane unexpectedly plummeted, piercing straight into his unruly nest of hair.

"I didn't mean it. I apologized to him immediately. He lifted his head quickly, stared at me for a moment in a daze, and then burst into tears, which startled me."

Yu Bai always found that day quite amusing when he recalled it.

He said with a smile, "I was the first person to say sorry to him. Others would either bully him or ignore him completely."

"And he was the first one who dared to show emotions other than friendliness in front of me. He wasn't afraid of getting the teacher involved, nor did he worry that the teacher might unconditionally side with me. Even if the teacher did, he never got angry."

"A rather peculiar way to become acquainted, don't you think?"

They were merely two young children whose lives had barely begun.

Yet, death had already severed these two innocent and naive kids from the rest of the world.

Until a white paper airplane, carrying the tears of a child, soared back into the distant blue sky.

"That's when we became the best of friends."

It wasn't just because of their shared solitude, but also due to their complementary personalities and occasionally matching eccentric thought patterns.

One was bold, the other timid, one clever, the other slightly dull-witted, yet both dismissed issues that others might consider monumental.

Yu Bai often secretly thanked Yan Jing for his blind happiness and thick skin, as it had unintentionally infected him, making his otherwise bitter and heavy childhood much lighter.

Friends shape and transform each other's lives.

But he would never share these thoughts with Yan Jing.

He really didn't want to see the guy's silly, tearful and sniffling appearance.

At this point, Yu Bai believed he had answered Xie Wufang's question quite clearly.

It wasn't so much an answer as an honest exchange of past experiences and secrets.

Outside the window, the serene night sky was perfect for such a conversation.

This was something friends who stayed overnight together would typically do.

Only, he had been the one doing all the talking just now.

Yu Bai pondered for a moment and, out of curiosity, asked the person beside him, "Why are you in a bad mood?"

Having been questioned by Xie Wufang, he decided to return the favor with a question of his own.

It was only fair.

After the previous answer, the man fell into a prolonged silence, his eyes slightly lowered, lost in thought.

Not until Yu Bai posed his question did those lake-blue eyes turn back to him.

And with his usual honest tone, he replied,

"I don't know." Xie Wufang said, "Am I in a bad mood?"

Yu Bai couldn't help but be taken aback.

How could he not even know that?!

And who was supposed to be asking whom here?!

Yu Bai looked at him in surprise. "Yeah, you seemed really fierce just now. Very different from usual."

Xie Wufang paused. The strange emotion in his eyes calmed down even more. "Did I scare you?"

"No, you didn't," Yu Bai whispered. "There's no need to apologize."

He believed that Yan Jing's unusual behavior tonight was due to being frightened by Xie Wufang.

But it wasn't the case.

Perhaps others might find non-humans mysterious and terrifying, but to Yu Bai, he was just a friend, and all that mattered was if he was upset or not.

Just like how he had treated his best friend for all these years.

After a moment of silence, Xie Wufang asked again, "Can there only be one best friend?"

Yu Bai froze, then chuckled. "Yeah, why else would we use the term 'best'? It means they surpass all other choices."

He spoke matter-of-factly, but noticed a hint of unfamiliar seriousness in Xie Wufang's expression.

Yu Bai hesitated for a moment, then, as if struck by an idea, cautiously asked, "You don't understand this word?"

Xie Wufang nodded gently. "I didn't before. Our language doesn't have the concept of 'best' or 'other options.'"

It turned out that he truly didn't grasp the concept.

Prompted by curiosity, Yu Bai promptly followed up, "Then how do you express similar ideas? Like when you need to choose from many things, or pick your favorite among them?"

"There's no need for choice or comparison," the man interrupted his speculations, speaking calmly. "There's only one."

Yu Bai wore a look of astonishment.

Only one.

Compared to humans, social creatures who developed all sorts of relationships, they were an entirely different species.

They seemed like a distant and mystical tale.

He seemed like a primitive beast with an untainted mind.

Unable to resist, he asked, "Is this uniqueness... mutual?"

"It is."

Yu Bai's imagination immediately ran wild. "What if you encounter another species with multiple 'unique' choices? What would you do then?"

Xie Wufang's tone was calm as he replied, "Then let them have only one."

Did that mean erasing the other options altogether?

...That was quite domineering.

It was the first time Yu Bai had such a conversation with Xie Wufang, and he felt as if he had discovered a new world.

Turned out, there were such civilizations existing in the vast universe.

Amidst his awe, he didn't forget to clarify the previous topic. "Your best friend can only be one person... but since you're not human, you don't fall within this choice."

Earlier, he emphasized "one," but now he stressed "person."

Would he really tell a friend that he had an even closer relationship with another friend?

He wouldn't be so insensitive.

Yu Bai chuckled at this thought and said, "You're my best non-human friend, I swear. Really."

After all, he only knew one non-human.

...Humans were just cunning like that.

It was unclear if Xie Wufang caught the wordplay. Gazing at Yu Bai's smiling face, he fell silent for a moment before abruptly asking, "Why were you sad today?"

Yu Bai, who was starting to feel drowsy again, was momentarily confused before realizing that Xie Wufang was referring to the time in the restaurant that evening.

Just as Yu Bai had earlier asked about Xie Wufang's mood, the latter was now returning the concern.

Indeed, you possess a remarkable aptitude for learning.

Yu Bai couldn't help but chuckle, "Because it's precisely something that brings great sorrow."

At that moment, as the dinner party was winding down, they had no choice but to bid farewell to Zhang Yunjiang, finding no reasonable excuse to stay any longer.

It was not until Xie Wufang suddenly proposed playing a game of chess.

"We all knew Uncle Zhang was going to pass away, yet we were powerless to prevent it and reluctant to bid farewell. That's why we're all so sorrowful." As Yu Bai spoke, he couldn't help but inquire, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

"No, we won't die."

...Won't die?

Yu Bai recalled his previous speculation and asked in surprise, "You can't possibly be a god, right?"

Xie Wufang countered with a question of his own, "What is a god?"

Yu Bai pondered carefully on how to explain it.

"It's something like transcending time, achieving immortality, and possessing extraordinary abilities."

As he spoke, a realization dawned on him, his voice fading into a whisper, "…You are a god."

A god who doesn't know how to lie.

Human beings are so complex.

But gods have transparent hearts.

Yu Bai mused in silence.

Upon suddenly acknowledging his non-human status, he should have felt curiosity, unease, or excitement.

But he didn't.

For he was incredibly tired, his mind too sluggish to process anything, even the presence of a god beside him.

What a long day it had been - fabricating a story to escape the police station, picking up a self-proclaimed reincarnated idiot, rescuing a girl from an assault, reuniting an elderly man with the semblance of a child and a deceased friend, and sharing his buried memories with an enigmatic deity...

A weary human, with limited energy, rubbed his eyes and whispered drowsily.

"Xie Wufang, I'm going back to my room to sleep."

After saying that, he quickly added a clarification.

"It's... true." As Yu Bai instinctively explained, he found the situation amusing. "I'm really about to fall asleep in the next second."

In the midst of his fading voice, the man responded briefly, "Mm."

Yu Bai suddenly smiled amidst his heavy exhaustion, guided by an innate impulse.

"At this point, you should say goodnight."

The human, shuffling along in his slippers towards his room, informed him.

And so, the deity swiftly learned this gentle farewell.

"...Goodnight."

"Good night."

The weary human mumbled his goodnight before promptly collapsing onto his soft and cozy bed, the lights off, and the door left ajar.

In the quiet of early summer's midnight, the occasional distant chirping of cicadas punctuated the shallow and rhythmic breathing.

What would a non-human, who didn't need sleep, do in the long and lonesome night?

The night sky was sparsely dotted with stars, and the moon cast a hazy glow upon the windowsill illuminated by a single dim lamp.

Beside the table sat a deity with black hair and blue eyes. Before him lay an old, yellowed notebook, its pages resembling parchment from a fantasy tale.

His gaze lowered slightly as the tip of his pen trembled gently against the paper, etching one enigmatic symbol after another, like lines from an arcane text.

If Yu Bai had not gone to sleep, he would have noticed a familiar symbol recurring frequently, resembling a plump little arrow, nestled amidst many unreadable, elegant script.

But in the adjacent room, he slept soundly, soon drifting into a peaceful slumber.

Summer nights were long.

He dreamt of a lake, its surface a cool, gray-blue expanse.

Upon the water, the moonlight fell silently, casting a translucent glow.